"Important Resource for
Protecting Home Values," Say Consumer Advocates
Los Angeles, Calif., March 14, 2001 - Home and
Condo Defects, a must-read consumer handbook that
gives homeowners a "nuts and bolts" strategy for recognizing
costly and potentially dangerous construction defects
and then guides them step-by-step through the process
of seeking resolution, will debut locally this month and
on the nation's bookstore shelves in April.
Written by attorneys Thomas Miller and his daughter Rachel
Miller, local authorities and nationally renowned specialists
in construction defect and land subsidence claims, Home
and Condo Defects, A Consumer Guide to Faulty Construction
has won the endorsement of consumer watchdogs in both
the government and the media.
"Unfortunately, construction defects in homes and condominiums
are far too common in many parts of our country where
residential growth has occurred so quickly in the last
decade," said California Attorney
General Bill Lockyer, who praised the handbook
for educating homeowners "about the realities of construction
defects and options they may pursue."
Thomas Miller noted that a home represents consumers'
"single greatest lifetime investment," and added, "The
American dream can turn into a nightmare for the family
that discovers their new home is riddled with problems.
Our goal in writing this handbook was to let them know
that they can effectively fight back."
What Is A Construction Defect?
Among the most common construction defects homeowners
encounter:
- Roofs and windows that leak
- Mold, mildew and fungal damage resulting from water
seepage
- Residences not properly attached to foundations
- Balconies and decks that prematurely fail.
Miller estimated that a third of new residential and commercial
construction has some significant structural defects.
The industry trend of using cheaper materials and cutting
corners to increase profits and speed up production has
contributed to the upsurge in claims.
Sandy Lopez, national director
of Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings Inc.
(HADD), said the handbook "dispels the counterfeit claims
of the building industry regarding construction defect
litigation and informs homeowners not to fall into builders'
implied one-year warranty" myth. Added Harvey
Rosenfield, president of the Foundation for Taxpayer and
Consumer Rights, the handbook is "an important
resource for protecting home values." Los
Angeles Times Columnist, Jan Hickenbottom describes
the book as a "comprehensive resource for homeowners."
The Millers are also the authors of the legal textbook
Construction Defect Law for the Western States.
Touted as "the man who wrote the book on construction
defects" by the New York Times, Thomas Miller is the pioneer
of construction defect law and a nationally recognized
specialist in construction defect and land subsidence
claims. Rachel Miller is a founding member of the California
Association of Community Managers. She speaks throughout
the U.S. in community association and legal forums on
consumer legislation, disaster response, and construction
defects. She currently serves on the Consumer Attorneys
of California Board of Directors.
Home and Condo Defects [Seven Locks Press, $9.95 in paperback]
will be available in March at Airport bookstores and in
April at Barnes & Noble and other major bookstores,
or may be ordered on-line at constructiondefects.com.
Since 1981, The Miller Law Firm has collected more
than $350 million in construction defect awards on behalf
of homeowner associations in California and throughout
the United States; including, but not limited to Oregon,
Nevada, Florida and Arizona. The Miller Law Firm has recovered
over $57 million on behalf of Los Angeles homeowners associations.
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© Copyright 2008 The Miller Law Firm. All rights Reserved.
If you experience problems or have questions, contact us at Info@ConstructionDefects.com.
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